October

Because October brought me you....

The 4-year wrap-up

We finally made it in for the 4 year check ups this week. I always get asked how big they are, so here are the official numbers for each...

Payton - She is 38 pounds and 39 inches tall. That puts her at 32% for height and 77% for weight.
Parker - He is a whooping 30 pounds and 37 inches tall. That puts him at 11% for weight and 3% for height.

Everything looks good, there are no special concerns at this time. They got their flu shots and we are good to go for now!

In other weekly doctor news....

Parker and I spent Sunday night in the ER. After a day of sounding a little strange, he really started to tank after dinner. We were greeted by a nurse who instantly took us back to a room when we got there. The ER doctor commented on how big Parker has gotten (I don't think I want an ER doc to know us that well) and the nurse aid asked if Parker went to Respite Care (because she remembered him from her clinical time). The official ruling...croup with exacerbated stridor, reactive airway and tracheomalacia. Sigh. After some mega-steroids and a special type of breathing treatment that we can't do at home, and we were allowed to go home. He's been a little weeny the past couple days but is coming around. Hope this isn't an indicator for the rest of the season.

Have a great week!!! As always, there's more exciting stuff coming!!!

The big 0-4

The past week has flown by. So here is the week the dynamic duo turned 4 (yes 4! holy smokes!)

We started the week painting pumpkins and doing a few other Halloween decorations around the house.

For their birthday we picked up special treats to take to school and share with all their friends, teachers and nurses. I told them we just needed something that was happy birthday. I love how they turned out, and apparently they were a hit with all the kids.

I told them before they went to bed for the last time as 3 year olds that when they woke up their feet would be bigger. Payton didn't really seem to care, but Parker was very interested on whether that was really going to happen. The first thing he did when he woke up was stick his feet out and promptly inform me that they were NOT bigger.

Their first day going to school as 4 year olds. Sigh.

After school we dove into some of the leftover cupcakes.

 Friday night after school we went to the pumpkin patch to do a bonfire and hangout with the cousins. It was a beautiful night and we had an amazing time. Thanks Stacey for organizing and inviting us!

By Saturday afternoon we were all a little wiped out...

Sunday afternoon was the big party. A pink and purple princess cake and a chocolate cake with a car on it. Candy, pinatas, friends, family, cake (yum!) and a house full that love and support the twins. My grandma used to say "my cup runneth over"...now I know exactly what she meant.

By the way, they both got some new jammies for their birthday, so if anyone is looking for a couple little ones to have over for a slumber party let me know ;)

Inspiration

4 years ago I looked like this...

I had no idea that things were going to change in a few days and soon, my life would look like this...

Parker - 5 days old. The day he was transferred to UNMC for a bowel perforation weighing less than 2 pounds. 

Payton, - 9 days old. Her first time being held at 1.5 pounds. 

6 months later I was a little lost. A year later, I didn't want anyone else to feel lost that had to go down this road. After an early morning meeting over bad coffee and greasy hash browns, I had an idea and one of my best friends did not think I was crazy. In fact, she said she was in on it. And so, my next baby was born with her help...

Then I got another push to take it further. So last year I took another step. I finished that step this week, completeing my degree...BS in Nonprofit Management. 

The week my last class started, Quiet Light was the cause at the Omaha Baby Fair. We saw a couple thousand moms and were able to tell them that if they have a day when the unexpected happens, they aren't alone, they don't have to be lost. The last day of class, I met with a new preemie mom who's having some struggles and was just a little lost and needed someone to talk to. I would say that this one perfect way to come full circle. 

Get ready kiddos, we're going to go far. 

P.S. Kristin - thank you for believing in my idea. You helped make this happen.